New York Times best-selling author Robert Hicks will be at the Maury County Public Library at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 17. Hicks will be speaking about his latest novel.

New York Times best-selling author Robert Hicks will be at the Maury County Public Library at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 17. Hicks will be speaking about his latest novel.

"It has been several years since Robert Hicks has visited our library," said Adam Southern of the Maury County Library. "Since his last visit, he has released another book titled ‘A Separate Country.’"

Set in New Orleans in the years after the Civil War, "A Separate Country" is a novel based on the incredible life of John Bell Hood, arguably one of the most controversial generals of the Confederate Army —and one of its most tragic figures. Robert E. Lee promoted him to major general after the battle of Antietam. But the Civil War would mark him forever. At Gettysburg, he lost the use of his left arm. At the Battle of Chickamauga, his right leg was amputated.

Starting fresh after the war, he married Anna Marie Hennen and fathered 11 children with her, including three sets of twins. But fate had other plans. Crippled by his war wounds and defeat, ravaged by financial misfortune, Hood had one last foe to battle — Yellow Fever. "A Separate Country" is the heartrending story of a decent and good man who struggled with his inability to admit his failures — and the story of those who taught him to love, and to be loved and transformed him.

Southern encourages everyone to attend the June 17 program.

"I hear from several people that they do not attend our events because they think there will not be enough room," said Southern. "We can seat 100 people comfortably in our programming space, so please attend."

Born and raised in South Florida, Robert Hicks moved to Williamson County in 1974. In 1979, he moved into a historic log cabin near Leiper’s Fork he affectionately calls "Labor in Vain."

Hicks is very involved with antiquities and historic preservations. He has served on the boards of Historic Carnton Plantation, the Tennessee State Museum, The Williamson County Historical Society and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. Most recently, he has been involved with Franklin’s Charge, an attempt to save the battlefield in Franklin.

He is the author of the widely-acclaimed "Widow of the South" about Carnton Plantation and its mistress, Carrie McGavock. Hicks was also an editor and contributor for "A Guitar and a Pen: Stories by Country Music’s Greatest Songwriters." He has also written essays on regional history, southern material culture and music that have appeared in numerous publications over the years.